CHAPTER TWELVE
GAbrIEL
Despite staying up late last night, I awoke energized. Sunday’s heavy traffic did little to phase me. Everything was sunshine and rainbows as I headed to the pick-up point Jake had decided upon. I was curious about where he wanted to go and when pressed he would insist it was a surprise.
Last night was a bit weird for both of us.
Opening up and talking about oneself usually was.
I was surprised how easy it had been for me to admit I’d been a fat kid.
It was something I was sensitive about and didn’t normally share it with my lovers.
He’d been a good sport and tolerated me droning on about losing weight in my teens, getting healthy, and working out.
The icing on the cake was our combined invented fantasy of adventures in gay-land.
I was glad he was opening up to me and I was ready to declare us as an item.
As I turned the corner, I spotted Jake standing against a convenience store. The breeze had gotten into his hair, tousling it and his cheeks were mottled from the autumn chill. The moment he spotted me pulling along the curb, he smiled something beautiful, and I knew I was in trouble.
“You’re late,” he said as he slipped into the car.
“But fashionable,” I countered.
Passing me a shy once over, his smile widened. “You always are. Should I start calling you Bond?”
“I’m surprised you know that reference. Unfortunately, If I want to masquerade as Bond, I’m going to have to drop about 25 million on a DB5. Until then, I dress to impress.” When he was belted in, I pulled back into traffic. “Are you going to tell me where we're going?”
“Harlem and 79th,” he said.
“Hm, fine. Keep your secrets,” I teased. His cheeks lifted as he looked out the window. Feeling ballsy, I took his hand in mine, his skin warm and soft. That smile I loved so much widened. “Did I keep you up too late last night? Sometimes I can’t stop gabbing once I get going.”
“I like listening to you talk,” he said. “You have a nice voice. And you’re exceptionally creative.”
“Cock-shaped trees that secrete their own flavored lube was your idea.”
The drive to the south suburbs of the city was quiet and calm.
We traded smiles, seemingly just enjoying each other’s company.
Kids were out trick-or-treating in large groups, and I wondered if my parents were doing the same with Amelia.
She’d been disheartened to find out I wasn’t tagging along this year, but I’d promised to bring her something special the next time I stopped by.
“It’s there,” he said, pointing to the side. A flush crept up his neck. “We can go somewhere else if you want. I thought it might be fun and low key enough for the both of us. Besides, I’m pretty good at Skee-Ball.”
“Are you kidding? I love Haunted Trails.”
“You do? I’ve never been, but always wanted to go.”
“Absolutely. We need to have a Skee-Ball match.”
“They have go-karts too,” he added, his gaze filling with interest as I pulled into a parking spot. “And a haunted house. But, ah…I don’t know if I want to go in it.”
“I’ll protect you, don’t worry. Now I know what I should have dressed up as for this year. A knight in shining armor.” I gasped in realization. “We could play out a fantasy. You get to be the maiden in distress and me the ravishing knight who rescues you and takes you back to the castle for—”
He laughed and quickly exited the vehicle.
It was probably for the best because once I got on the horndog train, it was hard to stop.
We hadn’t talked about the other night when we’d had phone sex, which wasn’t a bad thing.
It made the occasion feel natural. I wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him close. He didn’t try to move away.
“They have miniature golf too,” he murmured. “And we have to go on the go-carts. It’s a must.”
The light in his eyes was lovely. I very much liked this easy-going side of him. We bypassed the haunted house and entered the main building. A burst of chimes and bells greeted us as endless arcade games flashed and whirled. It was a little busy, but not suffocating.
“This is your idea, so you lead. I follow.”
He withdrew his wallet. “I think we need to get game cards.”
“I’ll handle that,” I interjected. “You find a game you want to start, and I’ll go get the cards.”
“But I—”
I didn’t let him finish. I wasn’t going to have him spending his much-needed cash.
Besides, I liked the kept boy idea. I found the vending machine and got two game cards worth $100 each.
I figured that would keep us busy for a while.
I rushed back to Jake who was eying the Skee-Ball machines with interest.
“Here,” I said and handed him a card.
“How much do I owe you?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“But this was my idea and I’m supposed to be taking you out,” he countered, his brows furrowing.
“I like treating you. Let me, please?”
He made a sound of disbelief but said nothing more as he swiped the card. The game started, several balls releasing into the query. He eyed me and said softly, “Are you ready to be destroyed?”
I chuckled. “Are you a betting man?”
He considered his next move, his gaze growing distant. “Not with you. You’ll wager something dirty.”
“But that’s what makes it fun.” Something bounced inside of me, pure amusement filling every inch of my being. “Too scared I’ll win, huh?”
He shook his head, and we got the game going. He was right, he was fairly good. Far better than me and my measly score. He landed the balls in the highest point holes several times.
“I used to save the change I found digging in the couches of downtown hotels. I’d go to an arcade and play Skee-Ball. I got pretty good.” His eyes grew distant as if he were reliving the moment.
“So what you’re saying is you have an unfair advantage?”
Glancing at my terrible score, he said, “I guess I just have good eye-hand coordination.”
“Uh huh,” I said, sulking. “You should have taken that bet. I want to know what you would have put on the line.”
The flush said it all. He’d been willing to wager something dirty too. We played several more games and I had the pleasure of having my ass handed to me by my baby boy. As he won again, he tried to hide his victorious smile, but I could see he was enjoying himself.
We left the games behind and rode the go-karts in an ‘8’ several times, his expression brightening with exhilaration.
I talked him into a game of miniature golf and to no surprise, he won that too.
Truthfully, it was hard to concentrate on anything but him.
He seemed enchanted with kids' games, his expression not unlike the one Amelia got when I’d taken her to a carnival over the summer.
Simple pleasures were the best, weren’t they?
I supposed he didn’t have the opportunity to do a lot of things like this. I made a silent promise to change that.
“There is one game I probably won’t win,” he said, pointing to a basketball hoop. “Not with my scrawny arms. You said you were into sports. You should try it.”
“Are you attempting to make me feel better because I’ve lost everything else?”
His cheeks mottled and he bit back his smile.
Chuckling, I pulled him in and kissed his forehead. “Don’t worry. I don’t have a fragile ego. I’m actually enjoying you kicking my butt, and I think you are too.”
“Ugh, I almost feel bad for taking you here. I didn’t realize how terrible at games you are.”
“Hey!” I teased good-naturedly. I said against his ear, “There are some games I’m good at.”
“Yeah?” he rasped. “What are those?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
His cheeks plumped even more, and I wanted to hug him until he popped.